Method and apparatus for packaging materials



Oct. 12, 1954 c. L. WECKESSER 2,691,259

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed Nov. 1:5,1946 7 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 12, 1954 c. L. WECKESSER 2,691,259

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed NOV. 13,1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 *1 "a a l m i h N v Q INVENTOR.

x l I I 7ITM Oct. 12, 1954 c. L. WECKESSER 2,691,259

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed Nov. 13,1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 12, 1954 c. L. WECKESSER METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed Nov. 13, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR.

ATTOFIVEVS Oct. 12, 1954 c. L. WECKESSER 2,691,259

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed Nov. 13,1946 7 Sheets-:Sheet 5 I 29 1% 4 A ullm "g 45 14/3 I d1 INVENTOR.

32 3,, 3w Ma Oct. 1954 c. L. WECKESSER 2,691,259

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed Nov. 13,1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR- Culu If.

%,/Mr m Arrd/fA E/S Oct. 12, 1954 c. WECKESSER METHOD AND APPARATUS FORPACKAGING MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Nov. 13, 1946 moio9n n 3:3 23 2 28 35M 33 3 no Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED sTATss ATENTOFFICIE,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Charles L. Weckesser, LosAngeles, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Norwich PharmacalCompany, Norwich, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original applicationNovember 13,

709,627. Divided and her 9, 1947, Serial No.

18 Claims.

molded article for medicinal use such as the prod uct claimed in myapplication Serial No. 709,627, filed November 13, 194-6, now U. S.Patent No. 2,634,857 of which this application is a division.

Suppositories are ordinarily molded of waxlike material which has amelting point at or near body temperature. They have a particulartapered form which is essential for their intended use. In the past, ithas been impossible to keep suppositories in warm weather withoutrefrigeration, for, regardless of how they may be wrapped, they softenor melt and, even if they do not leak from the wrapper, they lose theirintended form and thereby become useless.

My invention overcomes this difficulty and provides an article havingmany advantages. In accordance with my invention, a sheet of metal foilor the like is used both as a mold for forming a suppository and as aWrapper for the suppository which has been molded in it. The opening inthe mold for introduction of the material to be molded is hermeticallysealed after the material has been introduced. The metal foil acts, notonly as a sealed wrapper completely protecting the molded article, butalso as a continuously available mold which retains the waxlike materialin the proper tapered form, even if the material is softened or melted.The new wrapped suppository is, therefore, not injured by subjecting itto temperatures above the melting point of the suppository mass.

The foil which constitutes both the mold and the wrapper is die-formed,without stretching or wrinkling of the sheet of foil. It is given theshape of a wide-bottomed pocket whose top may be opened or closedwithout changing the shape of its bottom. The form of the pocket is suchthat when the pocket is closed at the top it has the tapered shaperequired for a suppository.

The method which I have invented for making the article involves thesteps of die-forming a sheet of foil into an open pocket, gripping andsealing'the side edges of the pocket and simultaneously filling thepocket with liquid or soft material to be molded, and closing andsealing the top of the pocket before the material has hardened.

The machine which I have invented for making the new article is rapidand automatic in operation and has the advantage of producing in 1946,Serial No.

this application Decemquantity sealed suppositories each containingexactly thesame amount of suppository material and, therefore, the sameamount of any medicament contained in the material.

In order that my invention may be clearlyunderstood, I will describe indetail a, particular wrapped suppository embodying my invention, and amethod. and machine for making it which also embody the invention. Inthis description, I shall refer to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating means forperforming the step of die forming sheet material into a mold;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of sheet material formed into a mold orpocket by the instrumentalities illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective. View showing the form taken by the sheetmaterial when the mold or pocket of Fig. 2 is closed;

Fig. 4 is a side view of an automatic machine for making wrappedsuppositories;

Fig. 5v is a top view of the machine;

Figs. 6 and 7 are top. and side views of a strip of foil passing throughthe machine;

Fig. 8, is an enlarged transverse section of. the machine on the lines38. of Figs. 4, 5 and 10, showing the gripper for moving the foil;

Fig. 9 is a similar section looking in the opposite direction and. takenon the lines s,-9 of Figs. 4, 5' and 10;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial top View of the right-hand part of themachine with part of the table broken away;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section on the lines l l& iof Fig. 5 and Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the lines i2--t2 of Figs. 4. 5 and11;

Fig. 13 is a transverse section on the lines l3-i3 of Figs. 4 and 5showing the notcher;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section of the notcher on the line l i-i4 ofFig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a perspective diagrammatic view of parts operating on thefoil;

Fig. 16 is a timing diagram of the machine; and

Figs. 17-21 show the wrapped suppository; Fig. ll being a side view;Fig. 18 an axial section on the center a transverse section on thecenter lines of Figs. 1? and 18; Fig. 20 a horizontal section on theline 20-213 of Fig. 17; and Fig. 21 a top view.

I will first describe a method of making a wrapped suppository inaccordance with my i;nvention. The materials used in the method arelines of Figs. 19, 20 and 21; Fig. 19'

a sheet of metal foil coated on one side with a thermoplastic adhesivecapable of sealing in the presence of grease, and a supply of moltenmaterial such as medicated wax.

The first step in the method consists of dieforming a sheet A of metalfoil into a pocket having a wide and quite rigid bottom and an openmouth. This step is illustrated in Fig. i which shows in perspective thesheet A of foil in the form of a U-shaped trough and a mandrel B18, abottom die B11 and one of two side dies B12 which are moved against theU-shaped sheet of foil. The bottom die B1 1 has an upper or moldingsurface whose central part B13 flat and rectangular and whose end partsB1 are triangular and are inclined downwardly from the central part B13.The inner die or mandrel B1 has a flat bottom B15 with curved ends B115.The bottom B15 of the mandrel is longer than the flat middle part B13 ofthe bottom die so that when they are brought together it projects overthe inclined end portions B14 of the bottom die B11. The mandrel B111 isof substantially uniform thickness and has curved side edges B13 whichtaper inwardly toward its top. Each side a die B12 has a flat originalcontact surface B19 and a central recess B20 which is formed to fitaround the curved side edges Bill of the mandrel B16 and around theinclined end portions Bl i of the bottom die B11.

In the die-forming operation, the mandrel Blfi is brought down insidethe U-shaped piece of foil and the bottom die B11 is brought up againstthe bottom of the U-shaped piece of foil so that a portion of the bottomof the U is flattened between the fiat surfaces B15, B13 of the mandreland bottom die. The side dies B12 are then brought together so that theydraw the foil around the sides of the mandrel B10 and force the foilagainst the end portions B14 of the bottom die 1311 to form the pocketshown in Fig. 2. The pocket has a bottom having a flat central portionA1 and two downwardly-inclined pointed end portions A2. This bottom isformed without stretching or creasing the foil and has considerablerigidity owing to its transverse creaselinesor angles A3. The side wallsA9 of the pocket extend upward nearly parallel from the side edges ofthe middle portion A1 of the bottom to the sides of the open top A6. Theend walls of the pocket extend upward from the converging edges of theend portions A2 of the bottom and each end wall consists in effect oftwo parts hinged together at one of the edges A! of the pocket. Theportion of the foil lying outside the boundary of the pocket is formedby the flat margins B19 of the side dies Bi2 into double or foldedflanges A4 which extend along the side edges A! of the pocket from theapices A5 of the inclined ends A2 of the bottom of the pocket to the topedges of the folded sheet A.

The forming of the bottom of the pocket shortens the length of thebottom of the trough of foil, while the forming of the open mouth A6 ofthe pocket shortens the upper edge of the trough to the same extent.

The next step is to withdraw the forming dies B10, B11, B12. Thewithdrawal of the mandrel B10 is not difficult as the flanges A2 may beseparated at the top to permit removal of the mandrel without deformingthe bottom A1, A2 of the pocket.

The next step consists in sealing the side edges of the pocket. This isaccomplished by a pair of sealing dies C (Fig. 15) having heated facesC1 corresponding to at least part of the contact faces B19 of theside-forming dies B12 so that, when they are brought against the foldedfoil from opposite sides after the removal of the forming dies B113,B11,Bi2, they force together the flanges A5 at the sides of the pocket,restoring the pocket to the form which it was given by the forming diesBit B11, BiZ, and which is shown in Fig. 2. The heat from the sealingdies C seals together the inner part of the side flanges A 1 of thepocket by means of the thermoplastic adhesive with which the innersurface of the foil is coated.

The step consists in pouring into the pocket through its open upper endA6 a measured quantity of the melted wax from which the suppository isto be formed. This step is most desirably performed while the sideflanges A l of the pocket are grasped by the side sealing dies C and maytake place simultaneously with the sealing of the side flanges At.

The next step consists in changing the form of the pocket while the waxis still molten or at least soft, so as to give it the tapered shaperequired in a suppository. This requires spreading apart the side edgesAl of the pocket at the upper part of the pocket so as to bring theupper edges A8 of the pocket together in a line and make the sides Ad ofthe pocket incline towards each other from the bottom to the top of thepocket, as shown in Fig. 3.

This step is accomplished by releasing the side flanges At of the pocketso that they may be spread apart, and then pressing two dies D (Fig. 15)with projecting engaging surfaces D1 together near the top A6 of thepocket to close the pocket and incline the side walls All of the pocketinwardly so that they come together at a line Alli near the top of thefolded foil (see Fig. 3). The dies D which perform this function alsohave projections D2 extending under the bottom of the pocket to alignthe dies.

This closing of the top of the pocket and giving it a tapered form ismost desirably carried out simultaneously with sealing the top of thepocket. For this purpose, the projecting contact portions D1 of the diesD are heated so that they seal the plastic inner coating of the foilalong the line A10 across the top of the pocket.

The result is a wrapped suppository of the form shown in Fig. 3 andFigs. 17-21 in which a tapered molded mass is completely sealed in awrapping of metal foil. The bottom of the wrapped suppository has theflat central portion A1 and the downwardly-inclined pointed end portionsA2 which has been previously described. The sides and top of thesuppository are completely surrounded by an extending flange consistingof the side flanges A4 and a top flange A11 formed by the closing andsealing of the top of the pocket. The flange consists of two layers ofmetal foil sealed together around the sides and top of the suppositoryso that the flange and the metal foil across the bottom of thesuppository completely enclose and protect the molded material. Thedie-formed foil keeps the molded mate rial in the desired shape even ifit becomes melted.

The presence of the flanges A4, A11 provides a convenient means forremoving the wrapper when the molded suppository is to be used. Theflange may easily be torn from the molded material, or, since the twolayers of foil are sealed together only along the inner part of theflange, the two layers may be separated at the outer part of the flangeand torn apart. To facilitate the latter operation, it is desirable, butnot necessary, to provide notches AI2 in the corners of one of thelayers forming the flange. These. notches may be out in the sheet of,foil before the foil is formed into a mold.

The wrapped suppository which has been described may be made by carryingout the described method manually by means of separate. 1instrumentalities.

An important feature ofv my invention, however, consists in providing anautomatic machine for carrying out the successive steps of the method inproper timed relation.

The machine. shown in the drawings has a frame F providing a table topFl (Figs. 4 and 5). Above the table is mounted a tank GI which providesa supply of molten medicated wax. The tank may be provided with suitablestirring and heating devices (not shown). The liquid is dispensed fromthe tank by means of a measuring pump G2 of ordinary construction.

A roll AI3 of metal foil coated with thermoplastic adhesive is supportedon the frame F below the front end of the table. The. web of foil A isdrawn over a pulley F3 through a notcher N and along the top of thetable in a trough-like uide F5. The web of foil is drawn forwardintermittently and formed into a U-shaped trough by a foil feeder H. Itis then acted on by forming dies BID, BI I, B42, side sealing dies, C,top sealing dies D, and is finally cut off by shears J.

A power-driven cam shaft carries cams for operating and properly timingthe foil feeder and the instrumentalities which act on the foil.

The foil feeder H is best shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. It consists of aslide HI moving in guides F2 fixed to the table FI. The slide HI has anupstanding portion carrying a depending U shaped mandrel H2 (Figs. 8 and9 around which the web of foil A is folded. It also has a pair ofgripper arms H3 for clamping the foil against the mandrel H2.

The slide HI is given a reciprocating motion by means of a cam H4mounted on the cam shaft 0 and engaging a cam follower H5 carried on adependent arm H6 which forms part of the slide HI. A spring H! reactingbetween the slide HI and the frame F holds the cam follower H5 againstthe cam H4.

The gripper arms H3 are operated in timed relation to the movement ofthe slide so as to grip the web against the mandrel before the slidestarts to move forward along the table, and to release the web after theend of the forward movement so that the web is free during the returnmovement of the slide. The gripper arms H8 are mounted on stub shafts H8connected by gears H9. Arms HIU depending from the stub shafts H8 areurged apart by springs HII so as to urge the grippers towards themandrel. One of the depending arms H II! carries a cam follower HI2which is engaged by a cam HI 3 which controls the opening and closing ofthe gripper arms. This cam Hl3 is mounted on a shaft HI4 driven from themain shaft 0 by means of a cross shaft HI5 and gearing HIE.

The pre-forming dies BIIl, BII, BI2 erated by mechanism best shown inand 12.

The side dies B12 are operated by a cam B2I' on the main shaft 0. Themechanism for operating them is similar to that for operating the ripperarms of the foil mover which has-been described. The side dies BI2 aremounted on a pair of arms B22 journalled on fixed shafts F4 andconnected by gears B24. Depending ends of the arms B22 are urged apartby a spring B25 andare op-- Figs. 11

6 one of them; carries acam. follower- 325- engaging thecam B2 I.

The mandrel BI 0- is given an up and down movement. Its upper end issecured to a cross arm B30 which is mounted on the upper end of avertically sliding shaft B3I. This shaft is operated by the cam B32 onthe main shaft through a follower B33 carried by the shaft B3I and urgedagainst the cam B32 by a spring B34.

The bottom die BII is also mounted for vertical movement. It is carriedby a bracket B35 on a sliding shaft B36 operated by the cam B3! througha cam follower B38 which is pressed against the cam by a spring B39.

Suction means may be provided for drawing apart the sides of the pocketproduced in the foil by the forming dies in order to facilitatewithdrawing of the mandrel BID. The suction is applied to the foil bythe side dies BIZ as they move apart. Suction holes B40 in the faces BI9of the side dies BI2 are connected to the suction tubes B4I whichconnect with a suction pump B42 through a valve B43 which is opened asthe side dies BI2 move apart by a cam B44 on the main shaft. The suctionmeans are not always necessary, as the sides of the pocket are in effecthinged to the bottom of the pocket so that they may be swung apart bymerely withdrawing the mandrel.

The mechanism for operating the side sealing dies 0 and for filling apocket in the foil during the side sealing is best shown in Figs. 10 and11. The side sealing dies C are operated by a cam 03 on the main shaft 0by mechanism similar to that which operates the side forming dies BI2.This mechanism includes two arms 04 journalled on the shafts F4 andconnected by gears C6. The depending end of one of the arms carries acam follower C! engaging the cam 03.

Melted wax is introduced into the pocket through a filler nozzle Gconnected by a tube G3 to the tank Gi through the measuring pump G2which is operated by cams G4 on the main shaft 0. The filler nozzle G isgiven an up and down movement so that it may be moved down into a pocketin the foil during the filling operation to insure filling the lowerpart of the pocket. For this purpose, the filler nozzle is mounted on avertically sliding shaft G5 carrying a cam follower G6 engaging a cam.G? on the main shaft 0 and held against this cam by a spring G8.

The top sealing dies D are operated by a cam D3. Like the side sealingdies, they are mounted on arms D4 one of which carries a follower D5engaging the cam D3.

Shears J are provided at the end of the table to cut off from the web acompleted wrapped suppository. The shear blades J I are mounted on armsJ2 connected by gears J3 and are operated by a cam J4 on the main shaftwhich engages a cam follower J 5 of one of the arms J2. A spring J6 isprovided to keep the shear blades J I in contact with each other. Theblades J I of the shears J may be inclined outwardly from vertical for apurpose which will be explained in connection with a description of theoperation of the machine.

To provide the notches AI2 in one side of the flange of the wrappedsuppository (see Figs. 17 and 18), a notcher N is provided at the frontend of the table, as best shown in Figs. 13 and 14. The notcher has ablade N 5 carried by a cross arm N2 on a vertically sliding shaft N3carrying a cam follower N4 engaging a cam N5 on the main shaft and heldagainst it by a spring Ni). The web of foil A from the pulley F3 isguided to the notcher blade under a plate N1 and over an adjustable bedNil.

The operation. of the machine which has been described may readily beunderstood from the timing diagram Fig. 16 taken in connection withFigs. 6 and '7 which show the effect on the web of foil of the variousparts of the machine. The

timing diagram Fig. 1.6 shows the operations which occur during eachcomplete revolution of the main cam shaft 0:

The foil feeder H reclprocates once during each revolution of the camshaft. it remains stationary for considerable periods between its forWard and backward movements. Its jaws H3 are closed during its forwardmovement and open during its rearward movement. The closing and openingof the jaws both occur while the feeder H is stationary so that therecan be no slippage of the foil in the feeder during the forward movementof the feeder.

The forming mechanism B operates while web is free and stationary. Thebottom die Bil is brought up and the mandrel Bill brought down to gripthe web and, while the web held between them, the side forming dies B22are closed to draw the foil about the mandrel. The efiect of this is toform an open pocket in the web as shown at Hit in Figs. 6 and '7. Theside dies B12 then open and. after they have opened, the mandrel Blil iswithdrawn upwardly from the pocket. withdrawal may be facilitated byapplying suction to the openings B ll! in the side dies Bi2 while thesedies are separating, to cause them to I draw the sides of the folded webapart, but this is not essential. Whether or not suction is used, thesides of the folded web are swung apart after withdrawal of the mandrelBit as shown at 96 in Figs. 6 and '7.

While a pocket is being formed at the point Hill (Figs. 6 and 'l) thepocket which was formed on the next but one previous complete revolutionof the cam shaft is bein filled at the point Hi2. To accomplish this,the nozzle G is first lowered and inserted in the pocket, while thesides of the trough of foil are separated as shown at llJi. The sidesealing dies 0 then close against the side flanges of the pocket. Thepump then discharges liquid through the nozzle G as the nozzle is beingmoved upwardly in the pocket so that the end or the nozzle does not dipin the liquid in the pocket. After the nozzle G has been withdrawnupwardly from the pocket, the side sealing dies C are opened.

While a pocket is being sealed at its sides filled at H22, the pocketfilled on the previous revolution of the cam shaft is located at thepoint 203 between the top sealing dies D. Before the top sealing dies Dclosed, the shears are operated to out off the pocket preceding thepocket which is located at the point H33 between the top sealing dies D.After the shears have operated, the top sealing dies are closed to closeand seal the top of the pocket at the point its. This has the effect oflengthening the upper edge of the folded web as shown at Hit in Figs. 6and '7. This spreading does not affect the operation of the shears,since it takes place after the pre-- ceding pocket has been sheared off.

It is not necessary to place the shears immediately adjacent to the topsealing dies D; but, if they are located further from the top sealingdies D, they must be inclined to the vertical, since the lengthening ofthe upper edge of the folded web by the topsealing dies will cause thefolded web to leave the position Hi3 on a downward arc, in a case wherethe severing of the web is not done until after the top sealing.

What I claim is:

1. The method of making a wrapped molded article having a tapered endwhich comprises folding a sheet of metal foil into the form of aU-shaped trough, flattening a portion of the bottom of the trough,forming the sides of the trough into the side and end walls of an openpocket extending upwardly from said flat portion of the bottom, clampingand sealing together the sides of the folded sheet along the side edgesof the pocket, introducing melted wax into the pocket through its opentop, releasing the folded sheet at the side edges of the pocket and,before the wax has hardened, pressing and scaling together the sides ofthe folded sheet across the top of the pocket.

2. The method of making a wrapped molded article having a tapered endwhich comprises folding a sheet of metal foil in the form of a U-shapedtrough, flattening a portion of the bottom of the trough, forming thesides of the trough into the side and end walls of an open pocketextending upwardly from said flat portion of the bottom, clamping andsealing together the sides of the folded sheet along the side edges ofthe pocket and simultaneously introducing melted wax into the pocketthrough its open top, releasing the folded sheet at the side edges ofthe pocket and, before the wax has hardened, pressing and sealingtogether the sides of the folded sheet across the top of the pocket.

3. The method of making a wrapped molded article which comprises foldinga sheet of metal foil into the form of a U-shaped trough, forming at anintermediate portion of the bottom of the trough a flat surface withdownwardly-inclined pointed ends and a fold line extending outwardlyfrom the apices of said ends, forming the sides of the trough into sidewalls extending upwardly from the side margins of said fiat portion andend walls extending upwardly from the margins of said pointed portionsand double flanges extendlng outwardly from the end walls, to provide apocket whose top may be opened and closed without deforming its bottom.

4. The method of making a wrapped molded article comprising folding astrip of sheet material into the form of a u-shaped trough, dieforming afiat-bottomed pocket in the trough, sealing the side edges of the pocketand at the same time introducing melted moldable material into thepocket, closing the pocket, and sealing its top before the moldedmaterial has hardened.

5. The method of packaging which comprises folding a sheet into the formof a U-shaped trough, inserting an outwardly-tapering fiatbottomedmandrel into the trough and pressing the folded sheet against it to forma pocket with a flat bottom and tapering ends, withdrawing the mandrelfrom the folded sheet, pressing together the sides of the folded sheetto restore the pocket to the form in which it was formed, and thereafterfilling and sealing the pocket.

6. The method of wrapping which comprises folding a strip of sheetmaterial into the form of a U-shaped trough, flattening a portion of thebottom of the trough, forming the sides of the trough extending fromflattened portion into the side and end walls of an open pocketextending upwardly from said flat portion of the bottom,

clamping and sealing together the sides of the folded sheet along theside edges of the pocket, introducing fluid material into the pocketthrough its open top, releasing the folded sheet at the side edges ofthe pocket, and pressing and sealing together the sides of the foldedsheet across the top of the pocket.

7. The method of wrapping which comprises folding a strip of sheetmaterial into the form of a U-shaped trough, flattening a portion of thebottom of the trough, forming the sides of the trough extending fromsaid flattened portion into the side and end alls of an open pocketextending upwardly from said flat portion of the bottom, and clampingand sealing together the sides of the folded sheet along the side edgesof the pocket.

8. The method of wrapping which comprises folding a sheet into the formof a U-shaped trough, flattening a portion of the bottom of the trough,forming the sides of the trough into the sides and end walls of an openpocket extending upwardly from said flat portion of the bottom, clampingand sealing together the sides of the folded sheet along the side edgesof the pocket and simultaneously introducing fluid material into thepocket through its open top, releasing the folded sheet at the sideedges of the pocket, and pressing and sealing together the sides of thefolded sheet across the top of the pocket.

9. The method of making a wrapper which comprises folding a sheet intothe form of a U- shaped trough, forming at an intermediate portion ofthe bottom of the trough a flat surface with inclined pointed ends and afold line extending outwardly from the apices of said ends, forming thesides of the trough into side walls extending upwardly from the sidemargins of said flat portion and end walls extending upwardly from themargins of said pointed portions and double flanges extending outwardlyfrom the end walls, to provide a pocket whose top may be opened andclosed without deforming its bottom.

10. A packaging machine comprising feeding means for intermittentlygripping and advancing a folded web of sheet material; means fordie-forming a pocket in the folded web, means for simultaneously sealingthe side edges of the pocket and means for closing and sealing the topof the pocket, located at different stations along the path of the web;means for dispensing a measured quantity of fluid material located atthe side-sealing station; and operating means timed to move thedie-forming means into pocket-forming position when the gripping meansis released and to operate the side sealing means and dispensing meanssimultaneously.

11. Apparatus for forming a pocket in a web of sheet material comprisingmeans for folding the web into the form of a U-shaped trough, a mandrel,a bottom die and two side dies, means for closing the mandrel and thebottom die against a portion of the bottom of the trough, and meansoperative thereafter to close the side dies against opposite sides ofthe trough to draw the sheet material around the mandrel.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the mandrel and bottom diehave opposed flat surfaces.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the mandrel and bottom diehave opposed flat surfaces and one of them has pointed end portionsinclined to its flat surface.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the mandrel has a flatbottom and the bottom die has a top having a flat central portion anddownwardly-inclined pointed end portions.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the mandrel has a flatbottom, substantially parallel sides, and edges tapered inwardly towardsits top.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the side dies have opposedflat marginal portions and, between these portions, recesses forembracing the mandrel.

17. Apparatus for forming pockets in a web of material, comprising amandrel, side dies having opposed fiat marginal portions and recessesfor embracing the mandrel, heater sealing dies having opposed facescorrespondin to the opposed faces of the side dies, means for causingthe mandrel to enter a trough of sheet material, means operablethereafter for closing the side dies about the mandrel to form a pocketin the sheet material, means thereafter separating the sides of thetrough, and means for closing the heated dies against the portions ofthe trough which were engaged by the side dies to close the trough andseal the edges of the pocket.

18. Apparatus for forming a pocket in a web of sheet material comprisingmeans for folding the web into the form of a U-shaped trough, a mandrel,a bottom die and two side dies, means for causing downward movement ofthe mandrel and upward movement of the bottom die to press a portion ofthe bottom of the trough between them, and means operative thereafter toclose the side dies against opposite sides of the trough to draw thesheet material around the mandrel and bottom die, means operable toseparate the side dies and means operable thereafter to raise themandrel, and means for sucking the sides of the trough against the sidedies during their opening movement so that the sides of the trough areseparated to permit withdrawal of the mandrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,944,147 Aldrich Jan. 23, 1934 1,945,255 Camagni Jan. 30,1934 2,128,964 Pityo Sept. 6, 1938 2,213,602 Yates Sept. 3, 19402,214,997 Guyer Sept. 17, 1940 2,269,533 Howard Jan. 13, 1942 2,272,251Robinson Feb. 10, 1942 2,274,344 Palmer Feb. 24, 1942 2,307,076 Ray Jan.5, 1943 2,318,508 Martindell May 4, 1943 2,378,324 Ray et al June 12,1945 2,508,962 Moore May 23, 1950

